Cotton-chopper.



PATENTED MAR. 31, 1908. G. E; SMITH.

COTTON CHOPPER.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 4, 1807.

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PATENTED MAR. 31, 1908. G. E. SMITH.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CALVIN E. SMITH, OF COLEMAN, TEXAS.

COTTON-CHOPPER.

Application filed September 4, 1907.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known'that I, CALVIN EWING SMITH, a citizen of the United States,residing at Coleman, in the county of Coleman and State of Texas, haveinvented new and useful Improvements in Cotton-Choppers, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention. relates to cotton choppers and one of the principalobjects of the same is to provide a machine in which the hoes orchoppers are mounted upon a square shaft provided with means forrotation and with means for moving the hoes or choppers longitudinallyof the shaft.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for forming a furrowfor the wheels so that the wheels will always run level and thus locatethe hoes or choppers at the required distance from the surface of theround.

Still another object of the invention is to simplify the constructionand at the same time render more efficient machines of this character.

These and other objects may be attained by means of the constructionillustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is aperspective view of a cotton chopper made in accordance with myinvention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 3.Fig. 3 is a plan view of the chopper. Fig. 4 is a rear elevation andpartial section of the same.

Referring to the drawing for a more specific description of myinvention, the numeral 1 designates a metal frame mounted on wheels 2,the axle 3 of which extends through a hanger 4 at opposite sides of theframe 1, said hanger being bolted to the frame. The frame 1 is providedwith forwardly extending members 5 suitably spaced apart, said members 5being provided with integral vertical portions 6 between which a lever 7is pivoted upon the bolt 8. The draft tongue 9 is pivoted upon the bolt10 and at the rear end of said tongue or pole bracket members 11 aresecured, said bracket members being pivotally connected as at 12 to thelever 7. A square shaft 13 is provided with a rounded front endjournaled in a bearing 1.4 supported upon a bracket 15 secured at itsopposite ends to the portions 5 of the frame. The shaft 13 extendslongitudinally of the frame 1 and is disposed substantially in thecenter Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 31, 1908.

Serial No. 391,307.

1 thereof. The rear end of the shaft 13 is supported in a bracket 16provided with a rounded bearing in which is fitted a rounded portion ofsaid square shaft 13. The bracket 16 is connected by bolts 17 to a frame18, the front ends of which are. bolted at 19 to a cross bar 20connected by bolts 21 i to the frame 1. The rear end of the shaft 13 isprovided with a bevel gear 22 which meshes with a similar gear 23 on theaxle 3. Brackets 24 through which the axle 3 passes are secured to theside bars of the frame 18. A seat 25 is secured upon a bar 26 bolted at27 to the rear cross bar of the frame 18.

Suitable furrow shovels 28 are secured to standards 29 mounted inkeepers 30 on the cross bar 20, said shovels being disposed in line withthe wheels 2 in front thereof and the purpose of these shovels is tomake a uniform furrow for the wheels 2 so that the hoes or choppers willalways occupy the same relative position to the surface of the ground.The hoes or choppers are mounted upon a hub 31 provided with a squaredbore which fits the shaft 13 and is permitted to slide thereon.Connected to the hub 31 is a series of tubular spokes 32 and fitted inthese spokes are the shanks 33 of the hoes or cho pers 34, said shanks33 being adjustably he (1 in the tubular spokes 32 by means of setscrews 35. The hub 31 and the hoes or choppers 34 are rotated with theshaft 13. The hub 31 is provided with an extended and fitted into saidgroove is the fork end 37 of a connecting rod 38, said connecting rodbeing pivoted at its rear end upon a bolt 39 passing through the lowerend of a lever 40, said lever being pivoted at 41 upon a bar 42 securedto a brace 43, the rear endv of which is connected to the bar 26 and theforward end of which is connected to the cross bar 20. Supported uponthe upper end of the bar 42 is a sector rack 44 designed to engage thespring pawl 45 of the lever 40.

The bevel gear 23 is mounted to slide upon. the axle 3 and is held inmesh with the bevel gear 22 by means of a s 7 ring 46. Connected to thehub of the beve gear 23 is a bar 47, the upper end of which is connectedto a foot lever 48 pivoted at 49 to a bracket secured to the frame 18.Suitable shovels 50 mounted upon standards 5] are utilized for throwingfresh dirt up to the plants, said standards ortion 36 having an annulargroove therein I by placing his foot upon the lever 48.

being mounted in keepers 52 secured to the frame 18. A rack 53 issecured to the for wardly extending portion 5 of the frame and this rackis designed to engage a projection 54 on the lever 7.

From the foregoing the operation. of my invention will be readilyunderstood and may be briefly described as follows :'lhe driver sittingon the seat 25 may at any time disconnect the bevel gear 23 from thegear 22 y shifting the lever 40, the hoes or choppers are moved back andforth upon the shaft 13. This enables the driver to manually shift thechoppers as may be required from time to time to insure the leaving ofstands in the row and the chopping out of the intervening plants. Whenit is desired to raise or lower the frame 1 relatively to the rear endof the tongue or pole the lever 17 is raised or i lowered and connectedto the rack 53.

My invention is of simple construction, is

strong and durable and operates efficiently for its pur ose.

Many c ianges may be made in the details of construction withoutdeparting from the spirit or scope of my invention as defined in ing rodis pivoted, and a rack for said lever.

In testimony whereof I affix mysignature in presence of two witnesses.

CALVIN E. SMITH. Witnesses:

B. O. HOWELL, J. W. GARNER

